Many of us leave NZ to exeprience the world and earn the money for our future. However ask yourself this question, is the opportunity to play for your country in a tourntament that will probably never return to our shores worth giving up for money. The answer for Carl is yes, for many I think otherwise. Stop dwelling on this, he was part of a loosing quarter final team and never made an impact apart from playing the clown while on tour. Call me od fashioned but soemtimes life is more than about money. Carl is actually being brave, he's being honest about his felings to NZ , your heart has to be in it and his is in secruing the future of his family. The more people earn the more you generaly want and Carl wants more.

From Toulouse in France : The fact is that you have so many great players ! everyone of them who come in France is so "professionnal", so good, so full of human qualities (Umaga, Carter, Masöe,Mac Intyre, Stensness...etc...etc...)! it's an honour and a pleasure to french rugby fans to see them playing.I am conscient whilever that it is a problem for all blacks rugby.We have to understand the decision of Carl Hayman : rugby career is shorter and shorter.He have to think about his family, about his future. P.S : sorry for my bad english and in another part, I have to say that Jean Pierre Rives spoke recently about New Zealand team, New Zealand fans and New Zealand people in ESPN.He said you are extraordinary people, marvellous and his admiration about you is tremendous ! coming from a legendary player, this is a great compliment. I love all blacks team so and I had the joy to speak with Syd Going about ten years ago when he came with young blacks in Toulouse.In 1980, I encontred Murray Mexted in a railway station, he was a little lost and I had to show him the train to Agen where he had to play a gala game : I recognized meanwhile he shaved his "moustaches". Good luck to N.Z for 2011. AMITIE.

Yea great! all of you negative thought provoking nay-sayers; we won't get past the semi's! Hayman made the right decision! blah, blah, blah!!! Really, who cares? Hayman will soon be forgotton lets support who we have here and work to win that elusive cup rather than dwell on past results and who we don't have in the team.

I'm a league supporter, but more than that a NEW ZEALAND Supporter who loves nothing better than seeing any NZ team do well, but there will always be the great Kiwi knockers who love to belittle our teams - get over yourselves and get behind our teams!

Go the AB's

The issue is not Carl and maybe not even the NZRU as they simply operate within the current rules. The real issue is that national unions are allowed to put in restrictions on where somebody needs to play for him to be allegeable to play for the AB’s. A shocking restriction of fair trade, which needs to be addressed on an international level. What is the value of a World Cup if the best players can’t play? I don’t understand that no player has challenged the NZRU legally yet as surely the NZRU will lose. There is a Belgium soccer player who did this once and he changed the whole European Soccer scene. Time for such a revolution in rugby!

There is no argument on Kiwis team fighting for the wooden spoon as rules will apply for every country and not only for NZ. Teams from the Oz will be affected just as bad and it would actually close the gap with RSA as they don’t have this restriction. New blood will come through faster and before you know it Super 14 will be as competitive as ever.

Why can’t we learn from history? Just look at the other major sports and you would see that you have to work with the money and not against it. NZRU should not have contracts with players; that is job of the clubs, not of a National Union. NZRU should not decide who plays when, where and how. The managers should.

If you want to blame anyone, blame the current system as it is prehistoric and requires major changes really fast before it’s too late.

If Hayman was smart he would comeback and win his place back in the Allblacks and when they win the world cup next year he can command even more money and still play for the French club. Suppose he is a forward so what do you expect :)

Good on Hayman. NZRU need to wake up. He has, and knows NZ won't get past semis, as we no longer teach/coach our players independent thinking skills (Nonu, Weepu, Lauaki, Williams et al). In an era of player accountability, senior player think tanks and leadership groups, all we continue to see is boofheads stuffing up the chances of well prepared individuals like Mccaw and Carter. My source tells me Hayman was offered 500k from the union and some serious top ups from private sources, so its not the money that he turned down. The black jersey is not what it used to be. Tell Tew to take some of the millions they made from playing a pointless game in Tokyo, or are they still having to pay off Jonahs debt.

I have to laugh everytime I hear people support the notion for the NZRU to change their policy and allow All Blacks selectors to pick overseas players. It really is quite funny. If that ruling was brought in, ALL OF OUR BEST PLAYERS WOULD PLAY OVERSEAS!!!! Carter, McCaw, Williams, Nonu, Thorn, Read, Cowan etc would be playing in Europe and Japan. Which would result in NZ Super 14 teams competing with one another to avoid the wooden spoon. Im sure all these people that are proponents of picking overseas based players would be the first ones to complain at the demise of the NZ super 14 teams!!!

i think people forget that this is their job and how they make a living. they play to be the best, well hes become the best and hes being offered the money to play his best. why wouldnt you take it?

if your a lawyer or a doctor and you get offered heaps of money to work overseas you would take it, because its you livelyhood.

i dont blame players for takingthe money while they can. what is the average age that rugby players go to? like mid 30's right.

so what are they supposd to live on from 40 onwards. most of these guys dont have qualifications and if they do then they havnt been in the work force for along time. so why cant they make millions when they have the opportunity. it sets them up for life and no one can say that if they were offered millions they would turn it down.

I think hayman is overated,the all blacks need to get over it and select the next best front row.obviously this is Afoa,Oliver and Billy Bush.

He's going to miss out on a chance to play the world cup final in front of a home crowd at Eden park. Money cannot buy that opportunity. He misses out on a chance to join the legends of the 87 team by winning at home.

What a fool.